MMU Rise

A critical introduction to research that explores the historical and contemporary topics around race and how we research it.

Welcome to Researching Race and Racism. This self study pack is a critical introduction to research that explores the historical and contemporary topics around race and how we research it. It’s important to think of this self study pack as a set of provocations and reflections that will prepare you for being a considerate and ethical researcher.

Some of the topics covered may seem quite complex, however through the additional activities you will be invited to engage with you should find yourself feeling more confident talking, thinking and writing about race.

Throughout this self study pack, you will be engaged in an array of different through-provoking topics. Although this self study pack has an order and a structure you can feel free to start with the introduction and pick how you would like to engage with the material. Put simply you get to decide how and which topics you’d like to look at first and in what order! The only advice is however to complete each topic and the sprints within them before starting another topic. This is to ensure you don’t get too overwhelmed and can take time getting the whole picture of a topic before moving to another.

As authors, we have engaged with the design of this Rise as a curative process where we have sourced videos, blogs, podcasts and readings that you can engage with. At the end of each sprint, there will be a set of provocations and questions that you can use for your self study pack portfolio or for your personal reflexive praxis. This self study pack was specifically designed for students taking part in the Rise Research Internship Program, but all are welcome to engage with this content.

We would like to invite you to join the anti-slavery movement. We hope that through this self-study pack you will gain a greater understanding of the challenges but also feel inspired to create positive change.

Modern slavery is closer than you think. This self-study pack has been developed by Dr Bela Arora in collaboration with The Anti Slavery Collective, which is a charity co-founded by HRH Princess Eugenie and Julia de Boinville. Modern slavery is a severe form of exploitation where one person takes advantage of the vulnerability another person.  It can happen to anybody at any time.  Sadly, we do not need to travel far from our own homes to find our lives intersecting with those who may be victims or survivors of modern slavery. It is an area of criminality that is taking place in plain sight. Through this Rise Self-Study Pack we hope to raise awareness about the scale and scope of modern slavery but we will also share some examples of the inspirational work that is taking place across the globe to fight modern slavery and exploitation in all of its forms.  We hope to inspire you to join us and become part of the anti-slavery movement.

Social Enterprise is increasingly referred to in (and by) all parts of society, the economy, and government – but it can often be unclear exactly what ‘it’ is, and why there’s such interest and excitement about it.

This self-study pack will help you better understand the role of social enterprise in tackling issues and needs (economic, social, environmental, and societal), by giving you a practical guide to how you can form one, and the ways in which they work in practice.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

At the heart of the agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Unit Outline:

In this course you will:

1. Explore the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and discover the journey to reach the current goals.
2. Examine the structure of the goals, breaking them down into smaller targets and actions and evaluating what these look like in the real world.
3. Review case studies of the SDGs in action, with a focus on our local community in Manchester
4. Described the concept of a global citizen and created a profile of our own global citizenship

This self study pack is also intended to be reflective and promote sustainable action. Throughout the course you should take time to reflect on your everday actions and choices and how you can take steps towards sustainability. You will gain the most from this intensvie by taking to the time to carefully think through the excercises and tasks. Taking part in the disucssion excercises will also help and stimulate ideas and disucssion with fellow students on the self study pack.

The pack challenges the traditional view that financial performance should come at the expense of the planet or society. Instead, it highlights how businesses and individuals can contribute to a more sustainable future while still achieving strong financial outcomes.

Discover how to use finance can be used for a force for good and how businesses can contribute to building a more sustainable world.

Explore the connection between finance and sustainability, and understand how money can be used as a force for good.

This Self Study Pack introduces students to the principles of sustainable finance, a growing field where financial decisions are made not only for profit, but also for positive environmental and social impact. It covers core topics such as ESG investing, green financial products, climate risk, and the role of financial institutions in sustainability.

The pack challenges the traditional view that financial performance should come at the expense of the planet or society. Instead, it highlights how businesses and individuals can contribute to a more sustainable future while still achieving strong financial outcomes.

You’ll gain the foundational knowledge needed to navigate this space—whether you’re considering a career in finance, working on a sustainability project, or simply curious about how financial systems influence the world around us.

If this inspires even one person to think differently, then it has served its purpose.

Here’s my motivation:

I created this self-study pack because I believe finance shouldn’t be exclusive or intimidating. Everyone deserves to understand how money works — and how it can be used responsibly. In today’s world, most businesses prioritise financial performance above all else. But I believe we can build profitable models that also protect the environment and contribute positively to society. We have the right to benefit from this planet, but we must also respect it and preserve it for future generations.

This pack is my way of making finance more accessible, conscious, and human.